This story was first published on November 21, 2023.
If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world.
A lot of that waste happens in our homes.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food were wasted at the retail and consumer levels in 2010. The federal government set a goal to cut the country’s food waste to 50 percent of 2010 levels by the year 2030.
It takes a lot of energy for our food to reach us. When it’s thrown out, it can give off gases that contribute to global warming.
A collection of simple actions can help you prevent waste and save money
Resources:
- Follow the “Food Waste Five”
- The best ways to store all your food
- Find recipes for food scraps and leftovers
- Learn to compost
Find the rest of the series:
- What can I do about climate change? An introduction
- Part 1: Start at home
- Part 3: Dig in the dirt
- Part 4: Getting around
- Part 5: Shop smart
- Part 6: Upgrade your home
- Part 7: Speak up
This story is produced in partnership with StateImpact Pennsylvania, a collaboration among The Allegheny Front, WPSU, WITF and WHYY to cover the commonwealth's energy economy.
